| BY ANDY ENRIGHT | | | | If you think that's impressive, try the Mdrive |
| Just six years after BMW slam dunked all of its | | | | button mounted on the steering wheel. This |
| direct opposition with the 400bhp V8-engined M5, | | | | button offers a one-touch function that changes |
| it was back, this time with a performer of an | | | | the settings of the car to a predetermined |
| entirely different magnitude. What was a headline | | | | ‘sporting' setting. Using the iDrive control knob, |
| power output in 1999 failed to raise an eyebrow | | | | the owner can select the preferred SMG gearbox |
| in 2005 and with a 507bhp V10 engine under its | | | | setting, electronic damper control and DSC modes |
| bonnet, the M5 once again lit the blue touch paper | | | | and, if specified, can even boost the amount of |
| in an ever-escalating power game. But while it | | | | support from the side bolsters of Active Seat |
| might have had the brute force to impress as a | | | | Control. Therefore you can roll up to your |
| new car, does the E60 generation BMW M5 still | | | | favourite corner with the M5 in its most |
| cut the mustard as a used proposition? | | | | comfortable setting, hit the Mdrive button and the |
| HISTORY | | | | car will transform into something a whole lot more |
| The E39 generation M5 built from 1999 to 2003 | | | | focused. Like all the best ideas, it makes one |
| was a tough act to follow. Beautifully balanced, | | | | wonder why nobody had thought of it before. |
| eye-wateringly rapid and flattering to even the | | | | WHAT YOU PAY |
| most ham-fisted driver, it still elicits wistful sighs | | | | You should be able to find a tidy M5 with full BMW |
| from besotted petrolheads the world over. The | | | | main dealer history and showing around 28,000 |
| E60 model was tougher to love. Technologically | | | | miles on the clock from £46,500 on an 05 plate. |
| dense, intimidatingly complex and challengingly | | | | Later 55 platers still fetch around £49,000 which |
| styled, the later M5 was nevertheless something | | | | shows how well this car clings onto its value. |
| that caused jaw-slackening astonishment, if not | | | | Predicted residuals for the M5 were 39 per cent |
| instant affection. The proposition was initially very | | | | after three years but the car is certainly set to |
| simple; one engine, one trim level, one body style, | | | | beat those predictions. Insurance is, somewhat |
| one transmission and very little in the way of | | | | predictably, a top of the shop Group 20, hardly |
| options. At over £60,000 it wasn't cheap but | | | | surprising for a car that can do 206mph if you |
| compared to vehicles with equivalent performance | | | | disengage the electronic limiter. |
| it was a bargain. | | | | WHAT TO LOOK FOR |
| Sales were initially a little slow but as the M5's | | | | The seven-speed sequential gearbox isn't the |
| shape began to mature nicely, orders rolled in. The | | | | most durable item. Little goes wrong with the |
| promise of a manual gearbox kept many hooked | | | | actual mechanicals but the software marshalling |
| but it was never launched in the UK, the | | | | the system is apt to show spurious warning |
| Americans (of all markets) getting it instead, | | | | symbols (the infamous ‘red cog of death') |
| joined with non-switchable traction and stability | | | | that will pass with a reboot but more serious |
| control. When changes did come, in 2007, they | | | | shutdowns have occurred. Cars that have run out |
| were very subtle indeed. The seven-speed | | | | of warranty will terrify owners if they see the |
| sequential gearchange was modified slightly to | | | | warnings and think a £6,000 transmission |
| offer some much-needed smoothness in full | | | | replacement is in the offing. |
| automatic mode and the front spoiler was | | | | The original fit Continental tyres many were |
| minutely restyled. The biggest news was the | | | | supplied with were not universally popular and |
| introduction of a rather handsome M5 Touring | | | | many owners have found the Pirelli P Zero a |
| variant, the first M5 load lugger imported to the | | | | better choice. The M5 has an appetite for oil and |
| UK. | | | | will consume up to one litre every 800-1000miles, |
| WHAT YOU GET | | | | so ask the previous owner about his or her oil |
| It's unlikely you'll mistake the M5 for one of its | | | | changing and topping up regime and you should |
| humbler brethren, even if your retinas struggle to | | | | get some idea of how diligent they've been with |
| resolve an image of extremely fast moving | | | | other aspects of the car. BMW also |
| subjects. Modified front and rear aprons and side | | | | recommended that launch control and gearshift |
| sills give it a subtly aggressive mien and subtle air | | | | speeds 5 and 6 are avoided in the first thousand |
| ducts puncture the front wings. The big giveaway | | | | miles of running in. If the owner is ignorant of this |
| are the monster 19-inch wheels housed within the | | | | (assuming they had run the vehicle from new), |
| subtly flared wheel arches. These deeply dished | | | | walk away. |
| ten-spoked wheels are unique to the M5 and are | | | | REPLACEMENT PARTS |
| finished in Chrome Shadow. The four signature | | | | (approx based on a 2006 M5 ) BMW spares have |
| tailpipes at the rear also give a distinct clue as to | | | | gained an enviable reputation for quality and value |
| what has just blown you into the weeds. | | | | and consumables are distinctly affordable. An air |
| Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via the | | | | filter is around £20, whilst you'll pay a similar |
| world's first production seven-speed sequential | | | | amount for a fuel filter. Oil filters are around £8, |
| gearbox. The Drivelogic system changes gears | | | | whilst spark plugs are £18. A replacement cam |
| around 20 per cent faster than the somewhat | | | | belt is around £32. |
| unsatisfying earlier iteration of the SMG gearbox | | | | ON THE ROAD |
| as fitted to the M3. Eleven different change | | | | The M5 is the sort of car that rewards an |
| patterns are offered, six of which allow the drive | | | | extended ‘getting to know you' period. |
| to alter the speed and response characteristics of | | | | Jumping straight in and trying to decide which of |
| the gearchange in manual mode and five that | | | | the eleven gearbox settings and which of the |
| govern the rules of the automatic mode. The | | | | damper settings, ESP settings and seat |
| sixth pattern in manual is reserved for the Launch | | | | configurations best suits you just isn't going to fly. |
| Control function, giving the likes of you and I the | | | | After a while, you'll probably settle on the softer |
| opportunity to replicate BMW test drivers' 0-60 | | | | of the damper settings, the second quickest gear |
| times. In theory at least. | | | | shift and full ESP on but it's a very personal |
| A revised DSC stability control system has also | | | | preference. The M5 takes a long time to learn to |
| been developed specifically for the M5. This | | | | drive sympathetically as well, the initial few weeks |
| features three settings, the default mode offering | | | | will see you constantly making a berk of yourself |
| the full safety net of electronic features. An M | | | | with rabidly flaring engine revs, herky-jerky pull |
| Dynamic mode allows the enthusiast driver to let | | | | aways and missed reverse selections. |
| it hang out a little, the system allowing a little | | | | Then one day it will all click. You'll find your |
| sideslip and opposite lockery. For the genuine | | | | favourite piece of road and instead of being a |
| hooligan and determined tyre fryer, a third press | | | | recalcitrant oaf, the M5 will flow. You'll pour all |
| of the button disables the system completely | | | | 507bhp to the rear tyres, you'll rejoice in the way |
| although if you're confident enough to fling | | | | the car shrinks around you and you'll thank BMW's |
| Munich's finest sideways at the scenery, I take | | | | chassis engineers for building a car so |
| my hat off to you. | | | | communicative and rapid yet so safe. |